Chess Puzzle #76fEt — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1846 · Advanced · fork, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; rooks b1/h1; bishops c3/g2; knights d2/e5; pawns a3/d3/e2/f2/g3/h2. Black: king c8; rooks d8/h8; bishops e7/g4; knights a6/d5; pawns b7/c7/d6/f7/g7/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxc3 — knight d5→c3, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxb7+ — bishop g2→b7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kb8 (king c8→b8).
  3. Best move: Nc6# — knight e5→c6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

fork, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Nc6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2kr3r/1pp1bpp1/n2p4/3nN2p/6b1/P1BP2P1/3NPPBP/1R2K2R b K - 0 17

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Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.